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I wrote earlier this year about the acoustic duo NorthStar, comprised of innovative and hypnotic singer Shikha Sehgal and guitarist Nelson Sobral and a couple times previously since I first heard them together just about a year ago.

Sehgal is definitely an original talent who on guitar and with her voice weaves tapestries from elements evoking west-Asian motifs and contemporary North American Pop Rock sounds into a uniquely spellbinding sound that, as I commented previously, is transcendent more than a fusion.  Her voice (you can hear it on one of her tunes, “Sing Baby Sing”, included on the Moon.ca’s Featured Tracks page on the Music Tab) is incredibly versatile as well as captivating and often enchanting. Sobral is an able accompanist and harmonizer and also has his own songs to bring to the party.

What I didn’t know until now is that the pair have recently also hooked up with a rhythm section (Darren Meilleur and Shane Miersch, aka The Velvet Hammer) to become a four-piece for some shows, including the taking place tonight at Amsterdam Bicycle Club downtown.

Not only will the full four-piece version of the band be performing at the 9:30 event in the club at 54 The Esplanade, they’ll also be joined for the night by another indie Pop group, Willow & The Deep, with which I’m not familiar but no doubt have much to recommend them if Shikha and Nelson deem them worth of sharing a bill.

The show promo doesn’t say whether or not there’s a cover charge but if not there’ll probably be a donations jar, which you definitely should not overlook.

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Friday, June 05, 2022:

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold, are underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type, highlighted, include live link to website and also have ad icon included in listings.

416 - Toronto Central

*3-7> acoustic jam with John Hutt @ Lola, 40 Kensington Ave., TO

*4-6> Hogtown Syncopators featuring Terra Hazelton @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

*5-8> Kensington Kitchen Party with host Kevin Jollimore of Sin City Boys & guest musicians @ Graffiti’s, 170 Baldwin St., TO ~Pop Rock with heart

*5-7> Friends of Hugh Oliver @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO ~Folk

6> Sandi Marie & Guy’s Last First Friday @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~Country/Roots-Pop

6> David Celia @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Pop Rock

6:30> The Jive Bombers @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

7> Queen’s Players Presents “The Jurassic Games” @ Tranzac Club (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> Patrick Brealey @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO

8:30> Allyson Murrell; Melaney Stanberry @ Free Times Café, 320 College St., TO ~songwriters; $5

9> Hill & The Sky Heroes; Red Horse Rebellion @ The Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~indie $

9> Speedy Ortiz; Alex G; Palehound; Tonkapuma @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie; $13.50

9-1> Universal Boogie Band @ Monarchs Pub in Eaton Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. W., TO ~Rock/Top 40

9:30> NorthStar featuring Shikha Sehgal; Willow & The Deep @ Amsterdam Bicycle Club, 54 The Esplanade, TO ~indie Pop

9:30> Oliver Pigott; Danka Scepanovic; Stacey Dowswell @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO ~indie; pwyc

9:30> Lady Kane @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul/R&B; $10

9:45> Galloway & Fair @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz

9:45> Mary Mckay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues

*10> karaoke with Randy Petrie @ Kramers, 1915 Yonge St., TO North

10> Soul Stew @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~ Funk/R&B; $

10> Kayla Howran @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen Street West, TO ~Country

10> Hobson’s Choice @ Tranzac Club (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10:30> Parkdale Drive @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 - Toronto East

5-7> The Straight 8s @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East

9> Chris Staig & The Marquee Players @ Dora Keogh, 141 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Popabilly

9-2> Ike Cedar & The Day Drinkers @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~alt Pop originals and covers

9:30> Cutler Boyd Band @ The Duke Live, 1225 Queen St. E., TO East ~Pop Rock

9:30> Tim Bovaconti Band @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~

416 - Toronto West

5-8> Sarah Kennedy & Matt Pines Jazz Duo @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

6-9> Parsonfield; And The Kids @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West; young Country; $15

8-10> Mark Texeira with Joe Spina on bass @ Humble Beginnings, 3109 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Roots/Roots-Pop

8:30> Skydiggers (2^nd of two nights) @ Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W., TO West ~acoustic Pop icons; $32.50

9-1> Fraser Melvin Blues Band @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Blues

9> Matty Powell @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

10> Ken Yoshioka with Dave McManus & Mark Stafford @ The Hole In The Wall, 2867 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Blues

10-2> Ginger St. James; Chris Altmann @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO W.

416 - Etobicoke

9> Fried Angels @ Blue Goose Tavern, 1 Blue Goose Rd., Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9> The Divas @ Maple Leaf House, 2749 Lakeshore Boulevard East, Etobicoke ~Rock/Top 40/Blues

9> Pop Machine @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock/Top 40; $

9:30> Second Pass; Lynch Mob @ The Rockpile, 5555 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke ~hard Rock; $

10-2> Pop Cherry @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Etobicoke South ~vintage Rock/Top 40

416 – Scarborough

9:30> Kris Barkley @ Stone Cottage Pub, 3750 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

9:30> Something Extra @ Kornerstones, 1601 Birchmount Ave., Scarborough

10> 333 @ Fox at Scarborough Junction, 646 Danforth Rd., Scarborough ~Rock

705

5:30> Rick & Gailie @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

8:30> Terry Finn’s 4 Front @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough

10> Sarah DeCarlo; Peter Youngtree @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 East

9-1> Power House @ Simcoe Blues & Jazz, 926 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa

9> James Cameron @ The Corral, 433 Simcoe St. S., Oshawa ~Country

10-2> Billik @ Fionn MacCool’s Ajax, 36 Kingston Rd., E., Ajax ~Pop Rock/Top 40

10-2> Plan B @ Whisky John’s, 843 King St. W., Oshawa

905 North

9> The Timecats @ King Richard’s Pub, 15570 Yonge St., Aurora ~Pop Rock

9:30> Skip Tracer @ Jake’s Boathouse Brampton, 59 First Gulf Rd., Brampton ~Pop Rock

9:30> Itchy & Scratchy @ Oscar’s Roadhouse, 1785 Queen St. E., Brampton ~Top 40/Rock

*9:30> open mic @ Big Daddy’s, 460 Elgin Mills Rd., E, Richmond Hill

905 – South

6:30> The Kitchen Pary; Ferguson Young; @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie; $

8> Lefty & The Goons @ Such Bang Blow!, 443 Highway #20 East, Hamilton ~classic Rock

9> CATL; Frankie & Jimmy; Hiroshima Hearts @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~indie; $8

9:30> Chameleon Project album release with Rose Garland @ Corktown Pub, 175 Young St., Hamilton ~indie; $

905 West

*5> Adam Ostrosser & Joel Guenther @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington ~Pop

*6-9> Rebelljo & Mary-Grace Marino @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~acoustic Pop Rock

9:30> Kimberley Wetmore & Co. featuring Dave Girdlestone on guitar @ Gator Ted’s, 1505 Guelph Line, Burlington ~Pop Rock

9:30> Kenny V @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Pop Rock/Top 40

9:30> Bar Slap @ Shakers, 580 Kerr St., Oakville ~Pop Rock

9:30> Shake Street @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Pop Rock

10-2> Firesound @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~big band fire-Rock